GeoRealityMatch
Scenic view of Lisbon's terracotta rooftops with the iconic 25th April Bridge in the background.Vibrant Lisbon rooftops with stunning river view under a bright blue sky.

Portugal

Europe · Southern Europe

Very high safetyAffordable cost of livingVery high development

It is one of the most peaceful countries, and people live long. Incomes are low for Europe.

Digital NomadOffers a digital nomad visa and home internet at 242 Mbps.ExpatCombines very high development, very high safety and affordable cost of living.RetireeCombines very high life expectancy, very high safety and affordable cost of living.
vs Spainvs Italyvs Greece
Safety

7th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.427lower is more peacefulVery high safety
#7 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.7per 100,000 people a yearVery lowUNODC / World Bank · 2022
Safety index
67Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferHighNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the European median

Median disposable income
€14,465per adult, a year, after tax and transfersLow
Eurostat · 2025
Rent index
25.2New York = 100Very expensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
13.9years of median income to buy a median flatExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 62% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 17% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$30K$60K$53,146 PPP$32,082Inflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $19,839 a person, $24,677 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2007, $22,811 a person, $25,738 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2008, $24,949 a person, $26,666 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2009, $23,151 a person, $26,472 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2010, $22,552 a person, $27,292 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2011, $23,247 a person, $26,803 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2012, $20,593 a person, $26,476 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2013, $21,676 a person, $27,966 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2014, $22,121 a person, $28,765 at PPP, inflation -0.3%2015, $19,216 a person, $29,608 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2016, $19,980 a person, $31,589 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2017, $21,442 a person, $32,971 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2018, $23,541 a person, $34,897 at PPP, inflation 1%2019, $23,343 a person, $37,866 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2020, $22,299 a person, $35,967 at PPP2021, $24,711 a person, $38,658 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2022, $24,621 a person, $45,250 at PPP, inflation 7.8%2023, $27,635 a person, $49,800 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2024, $29,328 a person, $52,513 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2025, $32,082 a person, $53,146 at PPP, inflation 2.3%$0$30K$60KInflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $19,839 a person, $24,677 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2007, $22,811 a person, $25,738 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2008, $24,949 a person, $26,666 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2009, $23,151 a person, $26,472 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2010, $22,552 a person, $27,292 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2011, $23,247 a person, $26,803 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2012, $20,593 a person, $26,476 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2013, $21,676 a person, $27,966 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2014, $22,121 a person, $28,765 at PPP, inflation -0.3%2015, $19,216 a person, $29,608 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2016, $19,980 a person, $31,589 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2017, $21,442 a person, $32,971 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2018, $23,541 a person, $34,897 at PPP, inflation 1%2019, $23,343 a person, $37,866 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2020, $22,299 a person, $35,967 at PPP2021, $24,711 a person, $38,658 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2022, $24,621 a person, $45,250 at PPP, inflation 7.8%2023, $27,635 a person, $49,800 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2024, $29,328 a person, $52,513 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2025, $32,082 a person, $53,146 at PPP, inflation 2.3%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
82.4years, at birthVery high
#23 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
83WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
6.2PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery lowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Higher youth unemployment than most of Europe

Youth unemployment
19.5%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceHigh
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
242 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
612EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery highEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet242 MbpsVery fast
Mobile136 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaMedium

Minimum income
€2,820 a month
Duration
4 months
Renewable
Yes
Application fee
€90about $99
  • Tax treatmentLocal rates apply
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed
  • Apply onlineIn person or at a consulate
  • Path to residencyYes
  • NationalitiesSome are restricted
Official page
Vibrant Lisbon rooftops with stunning river view under a bright blue sky.
How it changed

Portugal's Human Development Index

0.890Very high human development

40th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 28th of 44 in Europe.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #38Bahrain0.899
  2. #39Lithuania0.895
  3. #40Portugal0.890
  4. #41Croatia0.889
  5. #41Latvia0.889
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.707 in 1990 to 0.890 in 2023.

0.650.800.950.89019902000201020231990: 0.7071991: 0.7181992: 0.7351993: 0.7511994: 0.7651995: 0.7731996: 0.7811997: 0.7891998: 0.7951999: 0.7932000: 0.7972001: 0.8012002: 0.8042003: 0.8082004: 0.8092005: 0.8102006: 0.8152007: 0.8212008: 0.8262009: 0.8312010: 0.8362011: 0.8432012: 0.8442013: 0.8492014: 0.8542015: 0.8572016: 0.8592017: 0.8642018: 0.8662019: 0.8722020: 0.8702021: 0.8762022: 0.8832023: 0.8900.650.800.9519902000201020231990: 0.7071991: 0.7181992: 0.7351993: 0.7511994: 0.7651995: 0.7731996: 0.7811997: 0.7891998: 0.7951999: 0.7932000: 0.7972001: 0.8012002: 0.8042003: 0.8082004: 0.8092005: 0.8102006: 0.8152007: 0.8212008: 0.8262009: 0.8312010: 0.8362011: 0.8432012: 0.8442013: 0.8492014: 0.8542015: 0.8572016: 0.8592017: 0.8642018: 0.8662019: 0.8722020: 0.8702021: 0.8762022: 0.8832023: 0.890

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
82.4 years2024at birthUp 4.3 years from 78.1 years in 2005
Internet users
88%2024of people onlineUp 50 points from 38% in 2006
Urban population
62%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 2 points from 59% in 2006
Births per woman
1.412024births per womanLevel with 2005
Renewable share of energy
32%2021of energy usedUp 12 points from 20% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
32024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 1 from 4 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
3.3 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 3.1 t from 6.5 t in 2005
Forest area
36%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

A mild, peaceful base for remote workers, with its own digital nomad visa. The case for living here is peace, long lives and wide access to essential health services. The case against is low incomes and high youth unemployment, both for Europe.

About Portugal

It sits on Europe's Atlantic edge, at less than a fifth the size of Spain next door. The case for moving here is peace and climate. It is among the most peaceful countries on the Global Peace Index, and its climate rates among the best on Numbeo's climate index. The case against is money. Median disposable income is below the European median and rent is higher than in most countries.

Practical facts

  • CapitalLisbon
  • LanguagesPortuguese
  • Currencyeuro (EUR)
  • Area91,606 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Borders

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Quick answers

What is Portugal's Human Development Index?

Portugal's Human Development Index is 0.890 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #40 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Portugal safe?

Portugal scores 1.43 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #7 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Portugal?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Portugal at 48.8 (New York = 100); that is #94 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Portugal?

Life expectancy at birth in Portugal is 82.4 yrs (World Bank), ranked #23 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Portugal?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Portugal at 169.5, ranked #28 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.